PANAJI
Goa recorded a sharp 59 per cent rise in fallow land brought under cultivation in 2025‘26, according to official data with the Agriculture Department reporting that 10.75 hectares of neglected farmland were revived, compared to 6.76 hectares last year.
Officials said the increase was driven by new incentive schemes where farmers were offered one‘time assistance of Rs 15,000 per hectare to clear weeds and prepare the land for crops.
In 2025‘26, 11 farmers received subsidies worth Rs 1.61 lakh even though the government had budgeted Rs 2.58 lakh, showing a mediocre 62 per cent fund utilisation.
In 2024‘25, 10 farmers had reclaimed 6.76 hectares and pocketed Rs 1.06 lakh in subsidies.
Despite the rise, officials admit the scale of the challenge is daunting as Goa has nearly 8,000 hectares identified as fallow against which, only 130 hectares have been reclaimed over five years, a mere fraction.
Separately, initiatives in 2025 had seen 34 hectares revived by 115 farmers across four villages under the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana and the Community Farming Scheme.
The State had set a target of 30 more hectares for 2025‘26.
The department’s performance budget for 2025‘26 mentions only one major project “ converting 100 hectares of non‘cultivable land in Surla, Bicholim, into farmland.
Officials say mechanisation is key to overcoming Goa’s historic labour shortages and high costs.
“We are committed to community farming and mechanisation. But the pace must pick up if a difference has to be made,” a senior officer said.
Policy measures have also been introduced with the 'Goa State Amrit Kaal Agriculture Policy 2025' banning conversion of farmland for real estate.
However, enabling laws are yet to be framed and implementation slowed after the death of Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik, the policy’s architect, last October.
Meanwhile, paddy production fell to 1.1 lakh tonnes last year from 1.4 lakh tonnes, despite a marginal rise in cultivated area. Erratic monsoons were blamed for the decline. Farmers say clearing neglected fields remains costly and time‘consuming.
